Soccer Development

Improvement through consistent, focused, quality repetition — on the field, in the gym, and in the film room. Every rep matters.

Our Top Priority

To inspire — and grow every student's love, passion, and confidence.

Everything else we do is built on top of that.

How Development Actually Happens

Students have to enjoy the training — and understand how and why it benefits them — at the same time. When training is fun AND clearly helping them, you get engagement, buy-in, and focus. That's where development and confidence grow.

THE STARTING POINT

Fun + Knowing the Why

Training students genuinely enjoy — with a clear understanding of how and why every rep benefits their game.

WHAT IT CREATES

Engagement • Buy-In • Focus

Students who want to be on the field, believe in the work, and lock in — because the training is theirs, not something done to them.

WHERE IT LEADS

Development & Confidence

Real growth — in skill, in game intelligence, and in the confidence that carries into everything a student does.

The On-Field Curriculum

Foundational skills, trained daily and with intention — designed by Ken Godat specifically for TPH St. Louis student-athletes.

4 additional on-field hours every week, on top of club training • club-neutral — players from every club in Missouri and beyond keep playing for their own clubs.

TECHNICAL

Ball Mastery

Technical and specialty training — ball mastery, passing, and finishing — plus position-specific functional training.

GAME IQ

Decision Making

1v1 scenario-based training, small-sided games for playing-habit development, and dedicated decision-making training.

GAME IQ

Soccer IQ Education

Game model education across all phases — building players who understand the game, not just play it.

CREATIVITY

Creativity & Free Play

Creativity development, free play, and soccer-related games — soccer tennis, foot golf, and teqball — for aerial striking and receiving.

INDIVIDUAL

Player Evaluations & IDPs

Regular evaluations and Individual Development Plans, so every player knows exactly what they're working on and why.

PERSON

Mentality & Pathway

Mentality and leadership training, character building and values off the field, journey journaling, and pathway guidance.

Development in Championship Hands

Few youth academies anywhere put staff of this caliber on the field with students every single week.

Ken Godat HEAD OF SOCCER • PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Ken Godat

NCAA National Champion at Indiana Universityfirst-round professional draft pick in the MISL • more than twenty years with Saint Louis Scott Gallagher, where he serves as Youth Technical Director • coaching career spanning the collegiate, club, and international levels — including the Olympic Development Program and academy soccer in Europe. His model: training volume, 1v1 creativity, and the tactical intelligence to succeed in any system of play.

Paulo Nascimento HEAD OF GOALKEEPER DEVELOPMENT

Paulo Nascimento

Professional at 17 in Brazil, with a playing career across Brazil, Portugal, and Ukraine • a decade with the St. Louis Ambush of the MASL • NCAA Division I goalkeeper coach at Lindenwood University • leads the goalkeeper curriculum at Saint Louis Scott Gallagher across every age group. His standard: confident, technically strong, mentally prepared keepers who love the game.

1NCAA National Championship Won
3Continents of Professional Experience
50+Combined Years Developing Players & Keepers

Goalkeeper Training

Led by Head Goalkeeping Coach Paulo Nascimento — 10 dedicated days per month.

Dedicated GK Days

8:00 AM–12:00 PM: morning meeting, mentorship, video, hand-eye work, and goalkeeper-specific warm-up — then a full on-field session (30–40 minutes) followed by shots from players.

Between GK Days

Technique, form, good habits, body language, and work ethic — the standards don't take days off.

Whole-Player Development

Goalkeepers train within the full academy day — academics, strength and conditioning, and mentorship included.

Apply — 2026–27 (Second Semester) Apply — 2027–28